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Kitchen inspections, Feb. 23 - March 4
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The following are among the food service establishments inspected from Feb. 23-March 4 by the Hall County Environmental Health Department. New rules and regulations for food service began on Dec. 1, 2007. Food service establishments will now be given a letter grade that coincides with a percentile: “A” (90-100), “B” (80-89), “C” (70-79), “U” 69 and below. Inspections (frequency of) a food service establishment will be conducted based on risk categorization. The risk type shall be determined by the menu items served, the food preparation processed performed, and the previous food safety history in the food service establishment.
A new food service establishment that has never served food must score 100 (A) to receive a food service permit to operate. When a restaurant changes ownership, a new food service permit must be issued. To be issued a food service permit for a change of ownership, the establishment must score a 95 (A) or above with all Foodborne Illness Risk factors and Public Health Interventions in compliance. Permits must be posted in public view at all times. Food service establishments with drive-through windows will also be required to have the top one-third of a copy of the most current inspection report visible through each window allowing customers to easily read the score, date of inspection and establishment information, in addition to the copy posted inside the establishment. Copies of the new rules are available at the Hall County Environmental health Office. The rules and regulations are also available online at health.state.ga.us/programs/envservices/index.asp.
To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmental Health Department at 770-531-3973.

Feb. 23

Country House Restaurant

6443 Cleveland Highway P.O. Box 337, Clermont
Score: 89, Grade: B
Thermometers missing in walk-in and reach-in freezers. Employees without hair restraint. Utensils being used for serving must be properly stored to prevent contamination. Repeat violation: Gaskets on make lines are damaged. Repeat violation: Gaskets have an accumulation of dried food. Grease accumulation on grease container. Repeat violation: Cove molding in storage area and throughout most of kitchen detached from wall. Ceiling tiles peeling. Grease accumulation on equipment. Floors need detailed cleaning. Hood vent system has dust/grease accumulation. Vent fan next to drive-through window is completely open and fan assembly is dusty.
Inspector: Kathleen McDuffie

Feb. 24

Checkers Drive-in Restaurant

943 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 99, Grade: A
Grease container dripping on ground in Dumpster enclosure.
Inspector: McDuffie

Feb. 25

Ramada Limited

766 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 72, Grade: C
Inspector: McDuffie

Feb. 26

Longhorn Steakhouse of Gainesville

1709 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 81, Grade: B
Employees changing gloves without washing hands. Some foods uncovered. Slicer and cuber have dried food debris. Repeat violation: Some stored plates have dried food debris. Several gaskets on cooler drawers and make-line doors are heavily damaged and beyond repair. Repeat violation: Gaskets on most coolers have a heavy accumulation of mold/mildew and dried food debris. Repeat violation: Grease container dripping on ground and running into parking lot. Dumpster open. Repeat violation: Floors in kitchen have an accumulation of food, trash, grease, etc., especially under equipment and shelving and in corners. Cove tile no longer sealed to wall. Fans in walk-in cooler need cleaning to prevent dust from blowing onto food. Grease in hood vent system. Hood light needs to be replaced to allow for adequate lighting.
Inspector: McDuffie

Subway - Old Cornelia Highway

2310C Old Cornelia Highway, Gainesville
Score: 90, Grade: A
Some utensils had food debris in storage. No sanitizer at dishwashing station and no refill present. Make-line cooler not below 40 F. Thermometer missing in walk-in freezer. No sanitizer strips available. Equipment leak beneath Coke machine cabinet and ice drain tray at coke machine has mold/mildew. Repeat violation: Cove tiling around three-compartment sink no longer attached.
Inspector: McDuffie

March 2

Tori Clore’s Cafe

857 S. Bradford St., Gainesville
Score: 93, Grade: A
Slicer with food residue and blade with rust spots. Sanitizing hot water at three-compartment sink 148-152 degrees. Several ready-to-eat foods past seven-day expiration dates that were labeled on container.
Inspector: Donna Black

Napoli’s Pizza

5900 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 96, Grade: A
Cups in kitchen without lids and straws; employees eating on prep table.
Inspector: Black

Willowwood Nursing Center

4595 Cantrell Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 96, Grade: A
Employees in kitchen wearing rings and bracelets. Jackets and other items on shelves storing items used for residents.
Inspector: Black

Popeyes Fried Chicken

821 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 95, Grade: A
Wiping cloths stored in soapy water bucket. Containers stacked wet nested. Purse on bulk food bags and jacket on counter top.
Inspector: Lydia Hoffhines

Chick-fil-A

400 Pearl Nix Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 98, Grade: A
Accumulation of dust along racks, electrical cords, and vents above food prep counter.
Inspector: Hoffhines

El Sombrero Mexican No. 6

5900 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 85, Grade: B
Walk-in cooler ambient temperature 44 to 46 F. Repeat violation: Cheese sauce prepped Feb. 28 still at 48 F, March 1 at 48 F; refried beans prepped Feb. 28 at 46 F, March 1 at 47 F. Cooks keeping towels in apron strings. Dumpster open. Grease containers dripping on ground. Floors have an accumulation of dirt, food, etc.
Inspector: McDuffie

March 3

Bell Minor Home

2200 Old Hamilton Place N.E., Gainesville
Score: 94, Grade: A
Stored utensils had food debris and ice scoop stored in dirty container with food debris. Pressure gauge at warewashing machine broken and reading 52 psi. Refuse (gloves, sheet rock, wood, and mattress) at Dumpster area on ground. Freezer (walk-in) light is not bright enough to allow visual of food.
Inspector: Shelby Finch

Lanier Village Estates Inc

4000 Village View Drive, Gainesville
Score: 94, Grade: A
Can opener has dried debris; ice maker baffle at terrace level has mold/mildew. Aluminum foil on shelves and other surfaces. Refrigerated drawers on cook line need better cleaning; storage drawers have dried food debris. Combination prep sink, warewashing sink, employees’ toilet, and handsink have mold/mildew and broken caulk.
Inspector: McDuffie

Hampton Inn & Suites

4660 Holland Dam Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 96, Grade: A
Dishes being sanitized with no detectable amount of sanitizer in water.
Inspector: Black

The Shake Shop

1435 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 90, Grade: A
Food handler with water bottle in food preparation area. Utensils not being sanitized at three-compartment sink; sanitizer sometimes not used when cloths are soaked in sanitizer compartment for use or sanitizer is being washed off. No test kit available to monitor the strength of chlorine (bleach) used or sanitizer. Current inspection posted in area (next to refrigerator) not accessible to customers.
Inspector: Laurie Wentworth

March 4

Lakehouse Bar & Grille

5466 McEver Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 86, Grade: B
Drinks with no lid or straw found in unapproved drinking areas. Stored utensils and equipment with food debris. Several orange juice containers and buttermilk in walk-in cooler found expired. Sanitizing cloths not stored in sanitizer bucket between uses.
Inspector: Finch

Chattahoochee Golf Club

301 Tommy Aaron Drive, Gainesville
Score: 92, Grade: A
Repeat violation: Coke nozzles/diffusers and ice chute with mold/mildew build up. Repeat violation: Floor tiles underneath ice machine damaged and need replacing. Ceiling needs repairing near ice machine. Floors need cleaning better underneath fryers and in corners.
Inspector: Black

Veteran’s Cafe

1955 Delta Drive, Gainesville
Score: 97, Grade: A
Tuna salad stored in ice for cooling not far enough into ice to cool entire contents to 41 degrees F or below.
Inspector: Wentworth

Megan Gill